Local knowledge


AUGUSTA, Ga. — Your Masters leaderboard after one round:

Justin Rose and Trevor Immelman at 4-under par 68.

Some guys named Brian Batemen and Brandt Snedeker sharing second place with Lee Westwood at 3-under.

A log jam of Ian Poulter, Robert Karlsson, Zach Johnson, Stephen Ames and Jim Furyk at 2-under.

Wait a second.

Rose, Immelman and Poulter fighting it out at Augusta National?

Didn't they just do that, oh, about two weeks ago?

If you're looking for a reason why Rose, Immelman and Poulter shot such solid rounds Thursday, you can trace it back to a trip they planned in March. The three, who each live a lob wedge away from each other behind the gates of Orlando’s Lake Nona golfing enclave, were facing off against Tiger Woods and other pros from the hoitier, toitier Isleworth neighborhood in the Tavistock Cup when one of them suggested a road trip to Augusta.

The trio flew to Augusta two weeks ago, bunked down at a Marriott and ate at the T-Bonz steak house located off Washington Road a short hop from the course. They also devoured every possible nook and cranny of the Augusta National course.

‘‘What it did was took the pressure off the practice days this week,’’ Rose said.

And, by all appearances, it gave them a significant advantage over some of their competitors.

Immelman, whose brother Mark is the golf coach at Columbus State, said the two rounds shared with Poulter and Rose were spirited and closely contested. Rumor has it that some wagers were made.

‘‘We just had a fantastic time,’’ he said. ‘‘Kind of like three kids going to their favorite golf course. It was an awesome couple of days.’’

It could make for an especially awesome weekend if the three neighbors continue to jostle for position through the final round. It seems there’s some unfinished business dating back to the boys' getaway they enjoyed.

‘‘Justin actually won,’’ Immelman said. ‘‘I think I still owe him some money.’’